Difference between revisions of "Auxiliary verb"

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Also known as "modal verbs"
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Also known as "modal verbs", these are the verbs that take verbs as objects, not nouns. They modify verbs and give them some more meaning. In English, these are things like "should", "will" and "can", which all change something about the situation. Auxiliary verbs express capability, possibility, necessity, obligation or willingness.
  
Express capability, possibility, necessity, obligation or willingness.
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==Characteristics==
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In sentences with auxiliary verbs, the auxiliary verb is the one that gets modified. That is, if you want to negate a sentence with an auxiliary verb, put "不" before the auxiliary, not the main verb. Also, unlike normal verbs, auxiliary verbs can't be reduplicated, nor can they take the aspect particles: 了, 着, and 过. Finally, when you are responding to a question that uses an auxiliary verb, you reply with the auxiliary verb, not with the main verb that it modifies.
  
== Notes ==
 
* Can indicate intention, possibility or necessity
 
** Differing strength levels within these categories (e.g. 必须 vs 应该)
 
** Modal verbs of strong obligation (必须, 比得) can't form positive-negative questions
 
* In sentences with an auxiliary verb, the auxiliary verb is negated, not the main verb.
 
* To respond to questions with an auxiliary verb, the auxiliary verb is used, not the main verb. E.g. 你想不想来? 想.
 
* Auxiliary verbs can't be reduplicated.
 
* [[Aspectual particle|Aspect particles]] 了, 着, 过 can't be used with auxiliary verbs.
 
* Auxiliary verbs must take a verb as an object, not a noun.
 
* Most important auxiliary verbs:
 
** [[Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings|要]]
 
** [[Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"|会]]
 
** [["Would like to" with "xiang"|想]]
 
** [["Yinggai" for should|应该]]
 
** 该
 
** 必须
 
** [["Must" modal "dei"|得 (děi)]]
 
* How to say 'can' in different contexts [[Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"|(会, 能, and 可以)]]
 
  
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== Grammar Patterns for Auxiliary Verbs ==
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{{POS Page|Auxiliary Verbs}}
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  

Revision as of 04:48, 29 July 2013

Also known as "modal verbs", these are the verbs that take verbs as objects, not nouns. They modify verbs and give them some more meaning. In English, these are things like "should", "will" and "can", which all change something about the situation. Auxiliary verbs express capability, possibility, necessity, obligation or willingness.

Characteristics

In sentences with auxiliary verbs, the auxiliary verb is the one that gets modified. That is, if you want to negate a sentence with an auxiliary verb, put "不" before the auxiliary, not the main verb. Also, unlike normal verbs, auxiliary verbs can't be reduplicated, nor can they take the aspect particles: 了, 着, and 过. Finally, when you are responding to a question that uses an auxiliary verb, you reply with the auxiliary verb, not with the main verb that it modifies.


Grammar Patterns for Auxiliary Verbs

Sources and further reading